BBB is issuing an alert that E-mails containing malware are being sent to businesses concerning their online job postings. The FBI reports that cyber criminals are engaging in ACH/wire transfer fraud and are targeting businesses by responding via e-mail to employment opportunities posted online.

According to the FBI, more than $150,000 was stolen from a U.S. business via an unauthorized wire transfer as a result of an e-mail the business received that contained malware. The malware was embedded in an e-mail response to a job posting the business placed on an employment website and allowed the attacker to obtain the online banking credentials of the person who was authorized to conduct financial transactions within the company. The malicious actor changed the account settings to allow the sending of wire transfers, one to the Ukraine and two to domestic accounts. The malware was identified as a Bredolab variant, svrwsc.exe. This malware was connected to the ZeuS/Zbot Trojan, which is commonly used by cyber criminals to defraud U.S. businesses.

Employers should stay up-to-date on their virus protection. Running a virus scan prior to opening any e-mail attachments from a potential employee could provide more security.

The FBI recommends businesses use separate computer systems to conduct financial transactions.

Anyone who believes they have been a target of this type of attack should contact their financial institutions, the FBI, and report it to the IC3′s website at www.IC3.gov.

According to an annual report released today by Better Business Bureau, consumers filed 1.1 million complaints against North American businesses in 2010, reflecting a ten percent increase over the previous year. Consumers also turned to the non-profit more than 87 million times for help researching businesses across North America, a whopping 37 percent more than in 2009.

“The complaints filed with BBB are not only a barometer of customer satisfaction, but the rise in complaints also shows that consumers are increasingly relying on BBB for assistance in resolving disputes with businesses,” said Kim States, BBB President.

The cable and satellite TV industry received the largest number of complaints with 30,985, a 5 percent decrease over last year. The cell phone industry ranked second with 27,293 complaints but saw a 29.6 percent decrease over 2009. Rounding out the top three, new car auto dealers received 24,698 complaints, an 8.1 percent decrease over the previous year.

While the cable and satellite TV industry, cell phone industry and new car dealers received a high volume of complaints, the BBB report shows that they also have a higher rate of resolution with consumers than the average rate (78 percent) across all industries in 2010. Cable and satellite TV resolved 98.6 percent of complaints, a slight increase from 2009; the cell phone industry resolved 92.1 percent; while new car dealer companies resolved 87.4 percent of all complaints.

“Industries that do a large volume of business are naturally going to have a larger number of complaints. This is why it’s important to look at how a company responded when BBB approached them with consumer complaints, and not just the sheer number of complaints,” added States.

The report also reveals that the 3 million BBB Business Reviews are increasingly popular as a free tool for consumers to research the trustworthiness of businesses.  BBB Business Reviews—which contain information on a businesses’ accreditation status, letter-grade rating and complaint history—were accessed more than 87 million times in 2010. The most popular industries researched with BBB are roofing contractors, general contractors and mortgage brokers.

“The services and tools that BBB supplies free of charge at bbb.org are now of more value than ever before to consumers,” States said. “Given the current economic climate, consumers need to be more cautious on where and how they spend their money and a fast, easy way to do this is to ensure (more…)

Within the last few years, the landscape of colleges and universities across the nation has changed. Achieving the test scores needed to be accepted to your dream school and paying for tuition once you’re there is much more difficult than it was 20, 10 or even five years ago. Dwindling federal funds and grants left a myriad of openings for scholarship and SAT prep scams to emerge.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is warning consumers to use caution when approached by a company that is guaranteeing or promising scholarships, and using strong emotional appeal to get you to agree to share private financial information with them. Likewise, your BBB advises all consumers to use caution when buying SAT prep DVDs or courses over the phone or online.

While there are still many trustworthy and ethical companies out there with students’ best interest at heart, BBB is warning students and parents of students alike to be wary of these tell-tale signs:

• Guarantees and promises: If you are approached by a company that assures you that you will receive a scholarship or higher test scores, but only if you sign up with them now, remember that legitimate deals are rarely one-time offers.
• Exclusivity: Be wary of companies that tout information that no one else could provide you. Most scholarship lists are public information, and while there are legitimate companies who compile lists you should know that none of that information is limited to just you.
• Requests for personal information: Whether they are offering you a list of scholarship opportunities or a series of classes to prepare for the SAT or ACT, make sure you see and understand the details of what they are proposing before you hand over your personal information. It is critical that you make sure you are giving your money to an ethical business.
• Advance fee: Don’t pay ahead of time for a company to find you a scholarship. Be wary of giving money to a representative who cannot answer all of your questions to your satisfaction, but requires upfront payment for services yet to be rendered.
• Awards for contests you never entered: The chances of you being awarded a scholarship you never applied for are very small. Don’t be fooled into giving away personal information: If you receive a phone call from a representative claiming you have been chosen for a scholarship, ask for more information in writing, and make sure that you keep a detailed list of the scholarships for which you did, in fact, apply.
• Phone calls claiming that your son/daughter requested a program: Often, SAT/ACT prep course scammers will call households claiming that the parent’s student requested the company’s program. This pressured parent will transfer hundreds of dollars and personal information over the phone only to discover later that their child has never heard of the company.

BBB reminds you to always come prepared with questions for the company’s representative. If you do the proper amount of research on the company or service from which you are intending to buy, then you are far less likely to be the victim of a scam. Also, check with www.tucson.bbb.org to find business and charity reviews on companies with whom you are considering doing business.